Cupronickel spoons: what is it, the benefits and harms

The demand for spectacular cutlery is always high, despite the fashion, this gift has always been considered a status gift. Whatever lifestyle the family leads, a beautifully laid table will brighten any holiday. Depending on the budget and taste, devices are purchased from silver, cupronickel or nickel silver.

Cupronickel today is far from being as popular as 50 years ago; this alloy is used in the manufacture of not only dishes, but also jewelry. Due to its resistance to corrosion and external resemblance to silver, cupronickel ware was very common at one time. The alloy composition consists of the following elements:

• not less than 70% copper;
• no more than 30% nickel;
• about 1% manganese and iron.

Previously, zinc was also included in it, but today a material with such a composition is called nickel silver, where cheap zinc partially replaces expensive nickel. Cupronickel poorly transfers moisture, has a low thermal conductivity.

Cupronickel tea and table sets were very common in the USSR. There were several factories producing similar products. Nobody thought about the benefits and dangers of these table items. However, since there are several different metals in the composition, it should come as no surprise that their regular use leads to health effects. There is an opinion that, if used incorrectly, cupronickel has an adverse effect on health.

Among the advantages of such dishes can be safely identified:

• durability, strength;
• budget price;
• beautiful and status appearance;
• does not corrode;
• heats up slowly, so it is convenient to use.

There are also disadvantages to devices made of cupronickel:

• darken and require careful care;
• if the devices are devoid of coating, they can give off a metal taste;
• cannot be used for cooking.

As for health, it is possible to harm the body only by using cupronickel products for cooking. During the heating process, oxidation of copper releases certain toxins through contact with various foods. Therefore, you cannot cook food in the oven or on the stove in cupronickel dishes. The health benefits of using cupronickel spoons are regularly evident. A small number of metal molecules do not fight bacteria like silver, but are needed by the body. To increase the ingestion of substances such as iron, nickel, copper, it is enough to constantly eat with cupronickel spoons and forks.

Gold and silver dishes are not only extremely expensive but also fragile. Tea and cutlery made of alloys are more durable and no less beautiful. Spoons, forks, knives and other devices are branded, stamped in the form of an inscription, which denote certain information. Most often these are letters in the form of abbreviations and numbers. Items made in the USSR and Russia have the following designations and markings:

• MSC - decoding means nickel silver composition, which is analogous to cupronickel;
• if it says MELKH, MN - it means that you have tea or tableware made of cupronickel;
• NERZH on a spoon - means stainless steel;
• AL - aluminum.

In addition, when silvering or gilding, additional markings are assigned with the sign of the corresponding metal. MSC marking is used in the manufacture of not only cutlery, but also jewelry, equipment, fittings. It stands for copper, nickel, zinc. Nickel silver is coated with silver without fail so that there is no taste and smell of metal. Soviet GOST requires the following proportionality of the MNTs alloy components for cutlery and tea utensils;

• copper from 60%;
• nickel from 13%;
• zinc from 18%.

The inscription МНЦ 15-20 means exactly the percentage - 15% nickel and 20% zinc, the amount of copper in this way is not a problem to calculate. According to GOST, the thickness of the coating is also determined - 24 mm for forks, spoons, tongs, tureens, trays and dishes, 18 mm for a cup holder.

You can often see the ZiD and ZiS markings on vintage cutlery, this is the designation of the place of manufacture of the sets:

• ZiD - plant them. Dzerzhinsky;
• ZiSh - plant them. Shevchenko (there are records in Ukrainian).

First of all, silver is a pure metal, does not contain any impurities, while cupronickel is an alloy that has greater strength. Outwardly, they are very similar, therefore, it is not easy to distinguish them. First of all, you need to take a good look at the spoon.

The main differences are:

• silver is obviously heavier than cupronickel;
• reflects light well;
• becomes dull over time;
• conducts electricity and heat better, heats up faster;
• silver is more expensive;
• the brand of the product, if it is genuine, on silver is a test, on cupronickel - letters.

When in doubt, dip the spoon in iodine, water, or rub with a pencil. Any color change proves that you have an alloy in front of you. The smell of metal also indicates the presence of an alloy, since silver has no smell, it is enough to rub the product well to feel the aroma. You can draw a needle over the product, if there is a scratch, it is an alloy.

Caring for cupronickel spoons is quite difficult, especially since cupronickel often darkens. To prevent this from happening, you need to properly care for the cutlery. If they turn black, you should not despair, you can restore them to their original state on your own.

There are many reasons for darkening, the type of product and how it is stored are important. Main reasons:

• high humidity is a real trouble with cupronickel spoons, therefore they are stored in dry places, and after washing they are thoroughly wiped off;
• improper care, as food can get into tiny cracks, substances that change the appearance of the device over time.

To clean darkened spoons from cupronickel, different means and methods are used. They are great for both regular cleaning and stubborn stains.

• Foil. Most often used in conjunction with salt and soda. Foil is laid on the bottom of the container, on which the products that need cleaning are located. They are poured with soda-salt solution and sent to the fire for about 15-20 minutes. Then the fire is turned off, and the products are left in water until they cool completely, then they are thoroughly washed and wiped dry with a soft cloth.
• Special means. They can be purchased in the utility departments of supermarkets, they are easy to use, available in different forms: gel, powder, solution. It is most convenient to use liquid-type products and special napkins. They perfectly clean abrasive substances, but they can damage the set of tablespoons. It is recommended to purchase products that cover the device after use, protecting it from moisture.
• Soda and vinegar. This is one of the most budgetary ways, especially since both products are available in almost any kitchen. About 50 g of baking soda dissolves in a liter of water, if you use vinegar - 1 teaspoon per 200 ml. Then the products are rubbed with this mixture with a napkin, rinsed, and wiped dry.
• Broths. The most popular decoctions for cleansing cupronickel are potato, garlic, shells. The shells of two eggs are placed in water (1 liter) and brought to a boil, a darkened product is lowered there. After a few minutes, take out and rinse, wipe. Potato broth is considered a little less aggressive; it is better suited for periodic cleaning.
• Ammonia. 4 tablespoons of alcohol are added per liter of water, and this composition is used to wash products even with very serious contamination.

Often, after the procedures, the spoons from cupronickel fade in order to restore the lost shine, a variety of methods are used:

• toothpaste or powder - products are simply rubbed with a product applied to a cotton pad;
• potatoes - you will need half a raw root vegetable, which is used to wipe cutlery;
• pasta - devices are placed in a pan with boiled pasta for 20 minutes, water is left in the pan, after which it is washed and dried, and the pasta is thrown away.

In order for cupronickel spoons to retain their original appearance for a long time and do not require frequent cleaning, the following rules must be observed:

• do not store devices in places with high humidity in a closed box, it is better to wrap each of them with food-grade film;
• do not use aggressive chlorine care products, for example, "Whiteness";
• wash cupronickel appliances only by hand, they cannot be washed in a dishwasher.

For how easy it is to clean cupronickel in two minutes, see the next video.